1.

Identify each of the following sentences as analytic (A), synthetic (S), or

contradiction (C). (1 mark)
Exercise 30:
1. John’s nine-year-old brother is a boy. => Analytic
2. John’s brother is nine years old. => Synthetic
3. Cats are not vegetables. => Analytic
4. No cats like to bathe. => Synthetic
5. Cats never live more than 20 years. => Synthetic
6. My watch is slow. =>
Synthetic
7. My watch is a device for telling the time. => Analytic
8. That girl is her own mother’s mother. => Contradiction
9. That boy is his own father’s son. => Analytic
10. Alice is Ken’s sister. => Synthetic
11. Some typewriters are dusty. => Synthetic
12. If it breaks, it breaks. => Analytic
13. John killed Bill, who remained alive for many years after. => Contradiction
14. Bachelors cannot form lasting relationships. => Synthetic
15. Bachelors are lonely. => Synthetic

2. What is implied in the following utterances? (1.5 marks)

The corner of John’s lips turned slightly upwards.”
What may the utterance implicate
Exercise 36: Write down one implicature that can be drawn from the second speaker’s
response in each of the following conversations:
(1) Mary: ‘Did you manage to fix that leak?’
Jim: ‘I tried to.’
His utterance may implicate that Jim did not fix the leak.
(2) Steve: ‘What happened to your flowers?’
Jane: ‘A dog got into the garden.’
Jane’s utterance may implicate that the dog was not Jane’s and that her flowers got
destroyed.
(3) Laura: ‘Who used all the printer paper?’
Dick: ‘I used some of it.’
His utterance may implicate that Dick did not use all the paper.
(4) Gina: ‘I hear you’re always late with the rent.’
Robin: ‘Well, sometimes I am.’
His utterance may implicate that Robin is not always late with the rent.
(5) Jenny: ‘Mike and Annie should be here by now. Was their plane late?’
Alfred: ‘Possibly.’
His utterance may implicate that Alfred’s not certain that the plane was late.
(6) Gwen: ‘This cheese looks funny. The label said not to store the cheese in the
freezer.’
Alvin: ‘Yeah, I did see the label.’
His utterance may implicate that Alvin did not freeze the cheese.
(7) Mat: ‘What’s with your mother?’
Bob: ‘Let’s go to the garden.’
His utterance may implicate that Bob cannot talk about his mother’s problem in the very
place.
(8) Carmen: ‘Did you buy the car?’
Maria: ‘It cost twice as much as I thought it would.’
Her utterance may implicate that Maria did not buy the car.
(9) Robert: ‘Where’s the salad dressing?’
Gabriela: ‘We’ve run out of olive oil.’
Gabriela’s utterance may implicate that there is not any salad dressing left.
(10) Maggie: ‘The bathroom’s flooded!’
Jim: ‘Someone must have left the tap on.’
His utterance may implicate that Jim did not leave the tap on.
(11) Austin: ‘Want some fudge brownies?’
Jenny: ‘There must be 20,000 calories there.’
Her utterance may implicate that Jenny does not want any fudge brownies.
(12) Alice: ‘Have you seen my sweater?’
Max: ‘There’s a sweater on the sofa.’
His utterance may implicate that Max is not sure whether the sweater on the sofa is
Alice’s.
(13) Phil’s mother: ‘How did you do on these exams?’
Phil: ‘I failed physics.’
His utterance may implicate that Phil passed/did not fail the other exams.
(14) Paul: ‘I didn’t take it.’
Virginia: ‘Why do you always lie?’
Virginia’s utterance may implicate that it is Paul who took it.
(15) Tom: ‘It works now.’
Janet: ‘When did Eric fix it?’
Janet’s utterance may implicate that it is Eric, not Tom, who fixed it.
(16) Liza: ‘I hear you’ve invited Mat and Chris.’
Ed: ‘I didn’t invite Mat.’
His utterance may implicate that Ed invited Chris.
(17) A: ‘What are the Nelsons like?’
B: ‘They were rich.’
B’s utterance may implicate that the Nelsons are not rich anymore.
(18) A: ‘What is this examination in Semantics like?’
B: ‘It is so easy this time.’
B’s utterance may implicate that the last examination in Semantics was really difficult.
(19) A: ‘Did you get the milk and the eggs?’
B: ‘I got the milk.’
B’s utterance may implicate that he/she did not get the eggs.
(20) A: ‘Did Carmen like the party?’
B: ‘She left after an hour.’
B’s utterance may implicate that Carmen did not like the party.

3. Complete each of the following sentences in such a way that is an ENTAILMENT

of the sentence printed before it.
(=> is used to show one-way entailment and  to show two-way entailment). (2
marks)
Exercise 32: Use ⇒ to show one-way entailment and ⇔ to show two-way entailment in each of
the following pairs of sentences:

1. John is a bachelor 11. Eliza plays the flute.

=> Someone/Eliza plays a musical
=>John is a man. instrument.

2. I’m wearing black boots. 12. Alan planted roses.

=> I’m wearing black footwear => Someone/Alan planted flowers.

3. Mary owns three houses. 13. All dogs have fleas.

=>Mary owns a house. => My dog has fleas./Some dogs have
fleas.

4. Alvin is Mary’s husband. 14. My uncle teaches at the community

=> Mary is married. college.
=> My uncle is a teacher.

5. The wolf killed the bear. 15. My pet cobra likes the taste of
=>The bear is dead. chocolate.
=>My pet cobra finds chocolate tasty.

6. My father owns this car. 16. The Jones sold their house to the
 This car belongs to my father. Cruses.
 The Cruses bought the house from the
Jones.
7. I gave Erin the summons. 17. Some countries have no coastline.
I gave the summons to Erin. Not all countries have a coastline.

8. John is the parent of James. 18. I saw Ted at the party.

James is the child of John.  It was Ted that I saw at the party.

9. Jenny and Kevin are twins. 19. It is 50 miles to the nearest service
Kevin and Jenny are twins. station.
 The nearest service station is 50 miles
away.
10. The bear killed the wolf. 20. Bachelors prefer red-haired girls.
 The wolf was killed by the bear Girls with red hair are preferred by
unmarried men.

4. What kind of SPEECH ACT is performed through making each of the

following utterances? (2 marks)
1. ‘Let’s go to our place for a beer.’ Directive

2. ‘I don’t know how to answer this question.’ Expressive

3. ‘Mind your head!’ Directive

4. ‘How nice to see you!’ Expressive

5. ‘Who will believe this story? Expressive

6. ‘Is it right to cheat in any exam?’ Representative

7. ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ Directive

8. ‘I was so sorry to hear about your loss.’ Expressive

9. ‘I’m dead tired now!’ Expressive

10. ‘I’m awfully sorry I wasn’t at the meeting Expressive

this morning.’
 11. ‘If you don’t try your best, you’ll fail in Commissive :
the exam.’
12. ‘Why don’t you take a seat?’ Directive

13. ‘How dare you speak to her like that?’ Expressive

14. ‘You look lovely today in your new Expressive

dress.’
15. ‘I’d sell it if I were you.’ Directive

16. ‘I’ll be right back.’ Commissive

17. ‘I beg you to reconsider your decision.’ Directive

18. ‘Do you think I’m an idiot?’ Expressive

19. ‘May I hand in my final paper the day Directive

after tomorrow.’
20. ‘We select Alfred as the head of our Declarative
group.’
21. ‘I’ll pay you back in two days.’ Commissive

22. ‘We are going to turn you in.’ Commissive

23. ‘I would appreciate it if you went away.’ Directive

24. ‘Can I help you?’ Rogative/ Commissive

25. ‘I’ve stopped smoking.’ Representative

26. ‘Goodness!’ Expressive

27. ‘Drink a cup of coffee.’ Directive

28. ‘That doesn’t sound very serious.’ Expressive

29. ‘I’ve got to go now.’ Expressive

30. ‘Someone said you got fired.’ Rogative

Excersize 41:

1. ‘Do you feel better today?’

SITUATION 1:
Doctor: ‘Do you feel better today?’
Patient: ‘Yes, I do.’
The doctor directly asks her patient for some information.
 A ROGATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Mother [in hospital for a while]: ‘I’m glad that you’re here with me again.’
Son [in a very concerned manner]: ‘Do you feel better today?’
The son indirectly expresses his worry about his mother’s health.
-> EXPRESSIVE

2. ‘I beg your pardon.’

SITUATION 1:
A: ‘Take this paper to the lady over there and ask for her signature.’
B: ‘I beg your pardon (= Repeat, please). I didn’t hear what you said.’
B indirectly requests A to repeat what he/she has just said.
 DIRECTIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A: ‘You’ve taken my seat.’
B: ‘Oh, I beg your pardon.’ (= ‘I’m terribly sorry.’)
B directly apologizes to A for taking A’s seat by mistake.
-> EXPRESSIVE.

3. ‘It’s going to rain.’

SITUATION 1:
Wife: ‘It’s going to rain.’
(= ‘Remember to bring the new raincoat with you.’)
Husband: ‘I’ll bring the new raincoat with me.’ (= ‘I will.’)
The wife indirectly reminds her husband to bring the new raincoat with him.
 DIRECTIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Wife: ‘The weatherman says that it’s going to rain.’
Husband: ‘I heard that on the radio this morning, too.’
The wife directly reports what the weatherman has said.
-> REPRESENTATIVE.

4. ‘It’s snowing.’
SITUATION 1:
Mary: ‘What’s the weather like in Boston?’
Steve: ‘It’s snowing.’
Steve directly gives a piece of information (to answer Mary’s
question).
 REPRESENTATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Hazel: ‘Could you go and post this letter?’
Glen: ‘It’s snowing.’ (= ‘I’m afraid that I have to say ‘no’ to your
request.’)
(By stating the fact that it’s snowing,) Glen indirectly refuses to go and
post the letter for Hazel.
-> EXPRESSIVE

5. ‘I said I didn’t.’
SITUATION 1:
A: ‘Did you go to the theater last night?’
B: ‘I didn’t.’
A: ‘Tell me the truth. Did you go to the theater last night?’
B: ‘I said I didn’t.’
B is annoyed by A’s repetition of the same question.
 EXPRESSIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Jane: ‘Mum asked me if I knew your new address.’
Jane’s sister: ‘And what did you say?’
Jane: ‘I said I didn’t.’
Jane directly gives a piece of information (to answer her sister’s question).
-> REPRESENTATIVE.

6. ‘There’s a bend ahead.’

SITUATION 1:
A: ‘Is there any bend near here?’
B: ‘There’s a bend ahead.’
B directly informs A of the fact that there is a bend ahead of them.
 A REPRESENTATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A: ‘Be careful. There’s a bend ahead.’
(= ‘Drive carefully and slow down a bit.’)
B: ‘Thanks for your timely warning.’
A indirectly asks B to drive carefully and slow down a bit (because
there’s a bend ahead).
-> DIRECTIVE.

7. ‘Keep off the grass.’

SITUATION 1:
Son: ‘What does the sign say, Mum.’
Mother: ‘Keep off the grass.’
The mother directly gives a piece of information (to answer her son’s
question).
 REPRESENTATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A: ‘How smooth the lawn is!’
B: ‘Keep off the grass.’
B directly orders A not to walk on the lawn.
-> DIRECTIVE.

8. ‘I’m very upset that so many of you are talking.’

SITUATION 1:
Joe: ‘It’s my book.’
Jenny: ‘Your book is over there. This one’s mine.’
Jack: ‘Your book is there and over there is Joe’s. This one’s mine.’
Mother: ‘I’m very upset that so many of you are talking.’
The mother of three young children directly shows that she is
extremely annoyed by her children’s talkativeness.
 EXPRESSIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Teacher: ‘I’m very upset that so many of you are talking.’
Class monitor: ‘Be quiet, please.’
The teacher of a big class indirectly orders her pupils to stop talking
(and the monitor just paraphrases what the teacher has really said).
-> DIRECTIVE.

9. ‘Be aware of dogs.’

SITUATION 1: [There are some dogs in the street. A sees the dogs
approaching B.]
A: ‘Be aware of dogs.’
B: ‘Thanks for your timely warning.’
A directly warns B of the dogs’ approaching.
 DIRECTIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Daughter: ‘What does the sign mean, Mum?’
Mother: ‘Be aware of dogs.’
The mother directly provides her daughter with a piece of information.
-> REPRESENTATIVE.

10. ‘What else do you want?’

SITUATION 1: [Mary goes shopping. She’s already chosen a fashionable blouse
and a well-formed skirt.]
Shop assistant: ‘What else do you want?’
Mary: ‘That’s all. Thanks.’
The shop assistant directly asks Mary for some information.
 ROGATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A misbehaved seven-year-old boy keeps asking his mother to do this or
that for him while she is busy with a lot of housework.
Being annoyed, the mother shouts: ‘What else do you want?’ The mother indirectly expresses her
annoyance.
 EXPRESSIVE.

5. Identify the PRESUPPOSITION(s) in each of the following utterances. (1.5

marks)
1. ‘I am sorry I cannot find your book right now.’
The utterance presupposes that you have/own a book, and you have lent it to me.
2. ‘On the occasion of my friend's birthday, I intend to buy her a new vase.’
The utterance presupposes that
(1) I have a friend, (2) soon comes her birthday, and (3) she has a vase already.
3. ‘The exam is not so difficult.’
The utterance presupposes that there is an exam
and that the hearer already knows what the exam is.
The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the exam is.
4. ‘She is not happy about the chemistry course she’s taking.’
The utterance presupposes that she’s taking a chemistry course.
The utterance presupposes that there is a chemistry course and she’s taking it.
5. ‘We haven’t heard anything from Barbara.’
The utterance presupposes that the hearer already knows who Barbara is.
The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Barbara is.
6. ‘They were rich.’
The utterance presupposes that the hearer already knows who they are.
The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
7. ‘Can you stop playing with your cat?’
The utterance presupposes that you have a cat, and you’re playing with him/her.
8. ‘She was not aware that her son had an accident.’
The utterance presupposes her son had an accident.
The utterance presupposes that she has a son, and he had an accident.
9. ‘The explosion was so loud that it could be heard from miles away.’
The utterance presupposes that there was an explosion somewhere.
10. ‘I wish I had not booked the tickets.
The utterance presupposes that I booked the tickets.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the tickets are.)
11. ‘Tom might find the chocolate cake in the kitchen.’
The utterance presupposes that there is a chocolate cake in the kitchen.
12. ‘You will be amazed when you see the view.’
The utterance presupposes that you will see a beautiful view.
The utterance presupposes that
there is a beautiful view somewhere and that you will see the view soon.
13. ‘I am so sorry, I am in a hurry and I can’t answer your question right
now.’
The utterance presupposes that you’ve asked me a question.
14. ‘She was not aware that it would hurt her so much.’
The utterance presupposes that it (did) hurt her very much.
16. ‘Could you drive me to the airport?’
The utterance presupposes that
the hearer already knows what the airport is and where it is located.
17. ‘It took us two days to come back from Hanoi by train.’
The utterance presupposes that we once went to Hanoi.
18. ‘It is going to rain for a long time.’ (a prediction)
The utterance presupposes that it is raining now or it has been raining.
19. ‘I am going to have a final examination in Semantics.’
(Near future with arrangement)
The utterance presupposes that I haven’t taken the final exam in Semantics yet.
20. ‘We are going to be teachers of English.’
The utterance presupposes that we haven’t been teachers of English yet.
The utterance presupposes
(1) that the hearer already knows who the other members of this group are
and (2) that the persons in question haven’t been teachers of English yet.
21. ‘I think I will pass the exam.’
The utterance presupposes that there was an exam, and I have taken it.
The utterance presupposes that
there will be an exam soon, and I’m going to take it.
22. ‘I hope to have a good result for this exam.’
The utterance presupposes that there was an exam, and I have taken it.
The utterance presupposes that
there will be an exam soon, and I’m going to take it.
23. ‘But before your encouragement, we would have given up.’
The utterance presupposes that you encouraged us.
24. ‘I got an excellent mark for my essay last time.’
The utterance presupposes that I wrote/ I had written an essay.
25. ‘I missed my class on Monday because I overslept.’
The utterance presupposes that I had a class on Monday.
26. ‘My sister is going to graduate from university.’
The utterance presupposes that
I have a sister, and she hasn’t graduated from university yet.
27. ‘I've got a good mark for the exam in American Literature.’
The utterance presupposes that
there was an exam in American Literature, and I have taken it.
28. ‘I am going to have a new grammar book.’
The utterance presupposes that
I have a grammar book, and I haven’t bought any new one yet.
29. ‘When did you give up teaching?’
The utterance presupposes that you gave up teaching.
30. ‘When did you stop beating your wife?’
The utterance presupposes that
you once beat your wife, and you stopped beating her.
31. ‘Fred continued/didn’t continue speaking.’
The utterance presupposes that Fred was speaking previously.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Fred is.)
32. ‘I cleaned/didn’t clean the room.’
The utterance presupposes that the room was dirty.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the room is.)
33. ‘He killed/didn’t kill the bird.’
The utterance presupposes that the bird was alive.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the bird is.)
34. ‘What was John worried about?’
The utterance presupposes that John was worried.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who John is.)
35. ‘Bill drank another glass of beer?’
The utterance presupposes that Bill had drunk at least one.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Bill is.)
36. ‘Could you lend me the novel [when you finish it]?’
(non-fact → fact: + → −) you finish the novel
The utterance presupposes that you haven’t finished (reading) the novel yet.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the novel is.)
37. ‘I can’t guess when the rain stops?’
the rain stops (non-fact → fact: − → +)
The utterance presupposes that rain is falling / it is raining.
38. ‘Please take me to the circus again.’
The utterance presupposes that the speaker was at the circus before.
The utterance presupposes that the speaker has been to the circus before/
at least once.
The utterance presupposes that the hearer has taken the speaker to the
circus before/at least once.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the circus is.)
39. ‘He pretended to be pleased with the gift.’
The utterance presupposes that he was not pleased with the gift.
40. ‘If only you had taken his offer.’
The utterance presupposes that you didn’t take his offer.

Excersize 35:
Which of the following utterances share the same
presupposition?
(1) ‘Did Mike smash the television set?’
(2) ‘When did Mike smash the television set?’
(3) ‘I was eating popcorn when Mike smashed the television set.’
(4) ‘Why did Mike smash the television set?’
(5) ‘I don’t understand why Mike smashed the television set.’
(6) ‘I wonder if Mike smashed the television set.’
(7) ‘I wonder how Mike smashed the television set.’

The utterances marked (2), (3), (4), (5), and (7) all presuppose that Mike smashed the television
set whereas the utterances marked (1) and (6) both presuppose that the speaker does not know
whether (or not) Mike smashed the television set.
6. Write your 2 OWN pairs of COMPLEX sentences with the same proposition and 2 with
different propositions. (2 marks)
2 pairs of the same proposition:

1. Despite encountering issues, the team successfully overcame them.

Even though they faced challenges, they completed the project successfully.
2. I like to travel to Dalat because of the cold weather, which makes me feel relaxed and
sleep comfortably.
Dalat is one of my favorite destinations due to its cold weather which helps me relieve
stress and sleep soundly.
2 pairs of the different propositions:
1. Although I’m out of money, I still look forward to Tet with the hope that everything
will improve in the new year.
The atmosphere in the countryside is so fresh that I feel I could heal my soul there.
2. Despite Pho being the first Vietnamese dish that often comes to mind globally, I
personally favor Bun Rieu.
Even though my boyfriend and I frequently argue, we still always love and support each
other.